Last-marker



J. BURGER.

LAST MARKER.

- APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2, 1921.

1,389,857. PatentedSept. 6,1921.

BY 2 W TUBA/E? UNITED STATES JOSEPH BURGER, OF RICHMOND HILL, NEW YORK.

LAST-MARKER.

Application filed March 2, 1821.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, Josnrr-r BURGER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Richmond Hill, county of Queens and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Last-Markers, of which the following is a specification.

The lasts now used in the manufacture of high grade shoes are constructed of wood. These lasts are made in styles and sizes to suit the requirements of different shoe manufactures and are usually provided with distinguishing marks applied ordinarily to the instep and to the top portions of the last. In use, these markings are soon destroyed or rendered indistinguishable, due in part to the rough manner in which the lasts are handled and thrust about in the bins and also because of the hammering which the lasts receive in the course ofmanufacture of the shoes. The result of this hammering is particularly apparent on the top of the last which is subjected to the force of practically all the hammer blows, causing the mark on the top of the last to be quickly obliterated.

In the casting about of the lasts in the bins, etc., the instep portions, protruding as they do, are naturally subjected to the greatest wear and consequently the marks on these portions of the lasts are quickly deface-d and destroyed; and at best, these marks on the instep portions are not visible and hence are of no value when the shoe is on the last.

With these considerations in mind, the purpose and benefit of my invention will be appreciated when it is understood that the objects of my invention are to provide permanent markers for the lasts, which will not become disfigured and undecipherable in the course of the usual handling of the lasts, which will be visible when the lasts are in the shoes as well as when they are not and which, with these advantages, will not add materially to the cost of the lasts.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated an embodiment of the invention as applied to a wooden last of typical construction, Figure 1 being a perspective view of thesame and Fig. 2 being an enlarged cross sectional view as taken on substantially the plane of line 22 of Fig. 1.

The last shown comprises a shaped wooden body 3 having a movable inste 4, the body Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 6, 1921.

Serial No. 449,119.

having a thimble 5 seated in the top of the heel portion thereof, as customary.

In the use of the last, this thimble is slipped over the end of a supporting post or stud and it is made relatively heavy so as to withstand the various shocks and blows to which the last is subjected in the course of making the shoe.

In my invention I make use of these permanent and indestructible characteristics of the thimble for another purpose, and that is, to carry the identifying mark or marks of the last. In the example given, this is accomplished by imprinting the identifying characters 4 for instance, in the side wall of the thimble at G, slightly below the end of the thimble, at a point wherethey will be protected from end blows on the thimble and yet be within full view when looked at from an angle, such as in Fig. 1.

To make these identifying characters all the more accessible, the edge of the thimble at a point opposite such characters may be cut down somewhat, such as I have indicated at 7 this involving in the illustration the cutting away of the flange 8 of the thimble at this oint.

Ac ditional identification marks may be placed on the exposed end flange, as I have shown at 9. These, and in fact all the identifying characters, preferably are sunk in the surface of the thimble so as to be protected against any surface impacts which otherwise might mar them.

As a further protective measure, seats or depressions such as I have indicated at 10 may be sunk in the wall or walls of the thimble and identifying characters be applied to or countersunk in said depressions.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a shoe last, of a metallic thimble embedded therein and provided with a marker on the inner wall thereof adjacent the outer exposed end of the thimble and visible from the top of the last, said marker indicating the size of the last in which the thimble is seated and being protected from blows directed against the last or the thimble to thereby provide a permanent marking for the last and one which will be accessible even when a shoe is in position or in process of manufacture on the last.

2. The combination with a shoe last, of a metallic thimble embedded therein and provided With a marker on the inner wall thereof adjacent the outer exposed end or" the thimble and visible from the top of the last, said marker indicating the size of the last in which the thimble is seated and being protected from blows directed against the last or the thiinble to thereby provide a permanent marking for the last and one which will be accessible even when a shoe 'isin position or in processor manufacture on the last the thimble having a seat in which said marker is sunk below the normal surface and therefore protected against abrasion from a pin entered in the thirnble.

3. The combination with a shoe last, of a metallic thimble embedded therein and provided with a marker on the inner wall thereof adjacent the outer exposed end of the thimble and Visible from the top of the last, said-marker indicatingvthe size of the last in which the thimbl-e is seated and being protected from blows directed'against the last or the thimble to thereby provide a permanent marking forthe last and one which will be accessible even when a shoe is in position or in process of manufacture on the last, theouter end of the thimble at a point opposite the marker being reduced to more fully expose the marker.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this'23rd day of February, 1921.

JOSEPH BURGER. 

